"Cedille has done itself proud with this felicitous coupling of . . . conservative, accessible works." (Chicago Tribune)
"Ramon Salvatore plays brilliantly . . . The Cedille recording is, as usual, demonstration quality." (Fanfare)
"This is about as enjoyable as a recording of contemporary concert music gets." (Washington Post)
The world premiere recordings of two contrasting piano concertos
by major 20th-century American composers with ties to the Midwest
present what presidential campaigners might call a bridge to the past
and a bridge to the future. Here, listeners don't have to choose
between the two.
Ganz's Romantically styled Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 32
(1940) and La Montaine's jazzy, impressionistic Piano Concerto No. 4,
Op. 59 (1989) are vastly different. Yet besides having spent
significant periods of their lives in the Chicago area, the composers
share the goal of writing "music that appeal to a wide audience,
infusing their work with enough ingenuity and substance to satisfy the
most discriminating performer," writes Stephen C. Hillyer in the
program notes.
Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony for its 50th anniversary, Ganz's
concerto, like the rest of his output, is "cosmopolitan, conservative,
and -- especially in the work at hand -- uncommonly witty, as was the
man himself," Hillyer writes. Born in Switzerland, Ganz studied piano
with Busoni in Berlin. He came to Chicago in 1901 and began a long
association with the Chicago Musical College, including 25 years as its
director (1929-1954). He was music director of the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra (1921-27) and led its first recordings for the Victor label.
Ganz conducted the New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts and
guest conducted the symphony orchestras of Los Angeles and Chicago.
To purchase the CD or download this performance, click here.
Cedille Records is the recording label of The Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, a publicly-supported, not-for-profit, organization devoted to promoting the finest musicians, ensembles, and composers in the Chicago area by producing and releasing their efforts on audiophile-quality recordings. The recordings and their promotion are designed to stimulate interest in these performers and composers and bring their artistry to a wider audience. Cedille Records is also dedicated to promoting interest in neglected areas of the classical repertory by presenting masterpieces that have been overlooked by other recording companies.
Classical Music | Piano Music
Rudolph Ganz
Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 32 Play
Recorded on 02/26/1995, uploaded on 03/30/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
"Cedille has done itself proud with this felicitous coupling of . . . conservative, accessible works." (Chicago Tribune)
"Ramon Salvatore plays brilliantly . . . The Cedille recording is, as usual, demonstration quality." (Fanfare)
"This is about as enjoyable as a recording of contemporary concert music gets." (Washington Post)
The world premiere recordings of two contrasting piano concertos by major 20th-century American composers with ties to the Midwest present what presidential campaigners might call a bridge to the past and a bridge to the future. Here, listeners don't have to choose between the two.
Ganz's Romantically styled Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 32 (1940) and La Montaine's jazzy, impressionistic Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 59 (1989) are vastly different. Yet besides having spent significant periods of their lives in the Chicago area, the composers share the goal of writing "music that appeal to a wide audience, infusing their work with enough ingenuity and substance to satisfy the most discriminating performer," writes Stephen C. Hillyer in the program notes.
Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony for its 50th anniversary, Ganz's concerto, like the rest of his output, is "cosmopolitan, conservative, and -- especially in the work at hand -- uncommonly witty, as was the man himself," Hillyer writes. Born in Switzerland, Ganz studied piano with Busoni in Berlin. He came to Chicago in 1901 and began a long association with the Chicago Musical College, including 25 years as its director (1929-1954). He was music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1921-27) and led its first recordings for the Victor label. Ganz conducted the New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts and guest conducted the symphony orchestras of Los Angeles and Chicago.
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
To purchase the CD or download this performance, click here.
Cedille Records is the recording label of The Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, a publicly-supported, not-for-profit, organization devoted to promoting the finest musicians, ensembles, and composers in the Chicago area by producing and releasing their efforts on audiophile-quality recordings. The recordings and their promotion are designed to stimulate interest in these performers and composers and bring their artistry to a wider audience. Cedille Records is also dedicated to promoting interest in neglected areas of the classical repertory by presenting masterpieces that have been overlooked by other recording companies.